Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-02
THE AQUEDUCT BRIDGE.
Action Of the Secretary Of War.
THE REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE TODAY.

Inc speaker laid before the House to-day the re-
poGt oI the board OF engineers on the recon5truc-
tion OF the Aqueduct bridge, with a letter from
the secretary OF War, who states that he has APP
proved the report so far as to authorize the con-
StructOn OF the bridge without draw so that there
may De no delay in the progress of the work; but
informs the House that the absence OF a draw
"ouiu pe an obstruction to navigation.
LETTER FROM CHEF ENGINEER DUANE,
10 the secretary OF War, accompanying the report,
summarizes it as follows: 'sThc plan of recon
STRUGGLING the bridge, recommended by the board,
IS TO build deck bridge of iron or steel on the
present piers; to change the southern span into a
uTaW span, plvoted on the southern abutment; TO
replace The southern approach by embankment,
by extending southwark far enough to reach q
pier placed on the northern end OF the old abut-
ment.
To reconstruct the bridge on the plans thus in
dictated will cost s135 600 Ii, however. the bridge
were rebuilt without draw il would cost 81 o. 600
me Dalance In hand of the original appropriation
Is $iooUOo. 10 complete the reconstruction of the
bridge according to the plan above indicated, an
adulllonaI appropriation OF thirty thousand
dollars si ., VIII be REQUIRED. The plan of the
board for the reconstruction OF the bridge with
draw Is concurred in by this Office and it is recon-
mended Tor approval, He recommends that both
change to be made when the matter is settled, so
as not to retard the commencement of the work.
The report says that the board finds on investi-
duct bridge Is now navigabie to the foot OF the
Little Falls, distance OF three miles, by vessels
drawing 10 feet OF water. The board also finds
that. with moderate expenditure for removal OF
two narrow reefs, a navigation OF 20 feet can be
carried to the Chain bridge.
While such depths exist or can be obtained in
this stretch OF river, they cannot be utilized by
any but the smallest class OF vessels account OF
the inpossibility of getting above the
existing bridge, which is much too
low Tor schooners to pass under ii,
and has no draw. Above the bridge on the vir-
rock, whose development would be advantageous
to the owners, and also TO consumers in the Dis
tr1ct and elsewhere. The working OF these
quarr1eS has been hindered by the
Old Aqueduct bridge. The board Is
informed that the artificial island in Hampton
Roads is built OF stone from these quarries. On
the Maryland SlGe OF the river above the bridge
excellent sites, and coal shipping wharves that are
much needed on account OF the present crowded
condition OF existing wharveS, below the bridge
and these are al 80 excellent water powers that are
thus far undevcloped on account OK their inacces-
sibility to shipping.
The board think that the government should
concede to navigation the same rights it compels
private corporations to give in such cases.
and that it should aid rather than
0bStruct the creation OF manufacturing industries
In this case this can be done only by building the
new superstructure with draw span. The plan
is then given as summarized in General Duanes
letter as above. The width Of the roadway will be
"a fe9f in the clear, and there will be also two
sidewalks OF six feet each.
To the report is attached the petition of citizens
which states that all the considerations which in
duced Congress to buy out the interest of
the Alexandria Canal in the aqueduct trunk, and
to discontinue its Use as waterway can be urged
as cogent to demonstration OF q draw in the
bridge.